Beer: Reviews & Ratings

Bottle bought this spring, with a Sept. 2014 best-by date, says 16.9 degrees plato, 25 EBU, 80 EBC. Little other pomp or explanation on the label, which just promises a dark, artisanal, unfiltered, bottle-conditioned ale. Pours a bit like a cola, where it looks light brown and red during the pour, and turns dark only when massed in the glass. Even then I wouldn't say black but dark, dusky, murky red. Promising. Un-cola-like, the gushing head persisted for a while, nicely lacing the glass. The head, a flan or sabayon color, was visibly a nest of big bubbles, but no need to pick nits. Smell is of raisin bread baking, but faintly -- in the neighbor's kitchen. Cinnamon, yeast, not a tremendous volume of smell. Flavors of liquorice, root beer, clove, brown sugar, a bit of coriander and green pepper. I like it but it could use a bass note of hops. Tasted back to back with the Cluysenaer blonde, the mouthfeel is the only real carryover, and it's a successful one because I like the substantial feel and cleansing bit of carbonation, drying things out for another sip. I wish it has also carried over the complexity and sense of balance, but still a worthwhile spending of your alcocalories. (1,197 characters)